STAGE HYPNOSIS ...

STAGE HYPNOSIS...

Hypnosis is a state of altered awareness or consciousness and in this state your mind is much more open to accepting positive ideas or suggestions that are going to be of use to you. Now, “What about stage hypnotists?”, you ask! People do all sorts of daft things when they go on stage!

There was a program on Channel 5 some time back (19/5/4) about the dangers of stage hypnosis and I truely believe that it should be banned.

A therapist works with people for some time, talking to them and learning something about their problems, prior to hypnotising them. You cannot tell what lurks in the Pandora's box of a person's mind. To hypnotise and ridicule people cannot be an acceptable way for any person to behave towards another. 
 

Those people have chosen to go on stage in the first place and they know that the stage hypnotist is bound to make a fool of them. If you go on stage, you are choosing to act the goat, so you must enjoy that in front of a large group of people, or surely you wouldn’t go up in the first place? That’s my theory anyway!

The program that night indicated that some people can be egged to go up, but again that is their ultimate choice - only a foolish person would allow themselves to go up on stage against their will. It is not right or ethical to hypnotise people who have been drinking, either.
 

The stage hypnotist only chooses people whom he knows will go along with things and also those who are very highly suggestible and go into hypnosis very easily. He does a series of tests to establish the best subjects from the group and sends the others away.
 

They are indeed in hypnosis, but it is very loaded in the stage hypnotist’s favour. Therapy is not like this at all. Most people don’t go so deeply that they can walk about in it. Only about 5% of the population can do this. It is called somnambulism and you do know what you’re doing, although the mind may block it for a time.

Hypnosis itself is harmless and is indeed a very beneficial form of deep relaxation, very similar to guided meditation. However, please be aware that the mind can allow dormant feelings to be brought to the surface in order to be dealt with.

A stage hypnotist has no idea of the deeper rooted problems his subjects might have, and would have no contact afterwards to deal with any leaks of internal feelings.

We none of us know what lurks within Pandora’s box. Only ever work with a qualified therapist when using hypnosis, even just to stop smoking. They would know exactly how to deal with a spontaneous release of repressed or blocked off feelings, known as an abreaction.

Feelings have always been blocked off for a reason - often as a defence mechanism  in childhood, when you don't have the ability or experience to deal with such hurtful feelings, such as rejection, constant criticism, grief or disappointment.

Adults also block off feelings, but usually they learned to do so in childhood. The only way to release feelings is to feel them and express them. This can be painful, but not nearly so painful as holding on to them for years. Repressed feelings destroy people's lives and cause much emotional illnesses such as anxiety, depression and panic attacks, to name but a few.

In therapy you are in a situation of mutual respect, or should be. At no time should you be given suggestions of a negative nature, all the work should be aimed at creating a positive future and outcome for you. All that is said and done is for your Highest Good and for the Greater Good of all people that you come into contact with. You should be encouraged to simply BE YOURSELF ! That is all that is ever needed in this life. When we try top live our lives through someone else's eyes we can never be happy.

Therapy is best done in a supportive and in an interactive way, as you will have hopefully chosen a therapist who will learn from you, too. Always make sure your therapist is qualified to do what they say they will do. It is a joint venture and you are playing an active part in your own healing, hence – ACTIVE HEALING!

I realise that stage hypnosis is a form of entertainment, but it is based in ridicule and can release stuff which would under any other circumstances stay blocked off, with good reason. Please be careful if involved with this powerful and very useful and helpful tool, outside of a therapeutic environment. You can't see inside someone else's head.

For a properly trained hypnotherapist contact the National Register for Hypnotherapists and psychotherapists on www.nrhp.co.uk email nrhp@btconnect.com or 'phone them on freephone 0800 161 3823 or 01282 716839  for a bigger pool of trained therapists.

Only full members are listed on the website, but you could find a very good Associate member closer to your home or more on your wavelength, as everyone works differently. Always try to have a good chat before you decide on who to visit for therapy.

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